Meet Miu; the Sydney marathon swimmer making history

About this episode

Miu Tanaka discusses her record-breaking achievements in marathon swimming and her experiences as a young athlete in Australia.

At just 20 years old, Miu Tanaka is balancing university life in Sydney with record-breaking achievements in marathon swimming. The elite open water swimmer has already secured a series of remarkable firsts in Australia’s most challenging aquatic challenges. Miu Tanaka is the first woman to complete the demanding swim from New Norfolk to Bruny Island in Tasmania. She also became the first woman to conquer Tasmania’s Great Lake on the Central Highlands Plateau—one of the region’s most challenging cold-water swims. In an extraordinary milestone, Miu is also the first woman to complete the Australian Triple Crown of marathon swimming in a single season, cementing her place among the country’s top endurance swimmers. In an interview with Sabra Lane on The Blue Room , Miu shares insights into her marathon swims, what drives her to push physical and mental limits, and how she stays focused during long-distance challenges. She also reveals why swimming at night is her favourite part of the sport. Discover how Miu Tanaka is redefining marathon swimming in Australia through resilience, passion, and record-breaking performances. And what is her next marathon swim?

People in this episode

Host: Sabra Lane

Guest: Miu Tanaka

Topics covered

• marathon swimming
• endurance sports
• athlete interviews
• record-breaking achievements
• open water swimming

Keywords

• Miu Tanaka
• marathon swimming
• Sydney
• Bruny Island
• Great Lake
• endurance swimming
• open water swimmer

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Sydney, Bruny Island, Tasmania, Great Lake

More episodes of The Blue Room

• Mark Sowerby, Don't be Prey! · June 5, 2026 · 38 min
• Coledale Oysters at Coles Bay Devil Swim · May 22, 2026 · 26 min
• Discovering ocean pools and historic lidos; fitness, fun and friendship · May 8, 2026 · 25 min
• The Kingston Swim Pod; how to become confident in ocean swimming · April 24, 2026 · 27 min
• The Kingston Beach Sea Hags and Chat stroke · April 10, 2026 · 29 min
• The Desert Swimmer: how Brendan Cullen overcame depression and found joy in marathon swimming · March 19, 2026 · 41 min